Health Literacy: About

Health literacy refers to how well a person can get the health information and services that they need, and how well they understand them. It is also about using them to make good health decisions. It involves differences that people have in areas such as

Access to information that they can understand

Skills, such as finding that information, communicating with health care providers, living a healthy lifestyle, and managing a disease

Knowledge of medical words, and of how their health care system works

Abilities, such as physical or mental limitations

Personal factors, such as age, education, language abilities, and culture

More than 90 million adults in the United States have low health literacy. It affects their ability to make health decisions. This can harm their health. They may have trouble managing chronic diseases, and leading a healthy lifestyle. They may go to the hospital more often, and have poorer health overall. Learn more...

Recommended Websites...

PubMed.gov- Comprises more than 28 million citations of biomedical literature from Medline, life science journals, and online books.

Mayoclinic.org - More than 3,300 physicians, scientists, and researchers share their expertise in a consumer - friendly format.

ABMS Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists
FOR USE IN THE LIBRARY. This authoritative reference tool provides certification status and professional information about board certified physicians from the 24 Member Boards, in more than 150 specialties and subspecialties.